Accessing the unadvertised job market
If you have been made redundant you are bound to hear copious references to the mysterious world of the unadvertised job market, usually from executive outplacement firms.Claims are also often made that up to 70% of all jobs available are never advertised. Well that may or may not be true, however, there isn't a mysterious pot of great jobs that you can access just by handing over some cash to a consultant. What they usually mean is that, rather than only putting yourself forward for advertised positions where there will be many competitors and long lead times, they will show you how to use your existing contacts and networks and some clever research techniques to find a job that may not even have been thought of, let alone advertised.
It is very useful to have a high calibre career coach to help you through the exercise of understanding what you have to offer, what you really want at this stage in your career and then focus your efforts towards it. But, if you don't have the benefit of that help, you can use the extensive resources provided on this website to build your own personal marketing campaign.
- Start by taking the Ocean personality test to help you understand your skills and motivations more clearly.
- Begin to think through the types of positions you would like to do in future, and the sectors and industries you'd like to work in.
- Open your mind to new possibilities and ways of working - interim management, portfolio working, starting a business and so on.
- Create 'Brand You', the profile that will convey to prospective employers or clients what you have to offer and, more importantly, why they should want you to work for them.
- Consider your existing networks, join Linkedin, go to some networking events and get a few ideas bouncing around.
- Research the industries and firms you're interested in for triggers that might open up possibilities for you to work for them.
- Think about the problems you could solve for an employer organisation or client and how to position yourself as the solution.
- Approach your chosen targets and create opportunities for creative conversations that may lead you towards your new career goals.
Thinking, reflecting, researching and networking are the activities that will begin to drive you closer to success at this stage. So, what are you waiting for? Happy hunting!
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